Powder Coatings

It would come as a surprise to no one that the challenges facing the powder coatings industry today are quite challenging. Demand is down around the world, particularly for building, construction and automotive end uses. Capacity is too high and a lack of innovation in recent years could force structural changes in this industry. The current top-line destruction will only worsen industry profitability as firms fight to survive.

MIKEHAMILTON

Yet there is room for optimism. Companies that can think in their customers' shoes, improve working relationships with equipment pro�viders and pre-treatment suppliers, keep their cost structure low-and lead the way in material innovation-will demonstrate resilience and be successful, even in a down market.

As I see it, there are four factors at play in our industry today:

� Severe demand reduction across the globe, as demand for everything from coated metalli